Opinion

Punto Rojo, Colombian Bakery and Restaurant

1049 Front St, Uniondale, NY 11553

Mon-Sat 6AM-9PM, Sun 7AM-9PM

Photo Credit: restaurantguru.com

Going out to a restaurant that tastes like home is a treat for my family. Since I can remember, most of our family meals have been prepared at home. It’s much easier to eat at home when my mother and I cook because my father can be picky about what he eats, especially if he goes to a restaurant.

One time, we decided to go out to a restaurant with my father. My father wished to sample some Colombian cuisine in Nassau County. So, we went to Punto Rojo Restaurant and Bakery. It has pictures of Colombian landscapes hanging from the ceiling. The walls are decorated with paintings by a Colombian artist, Botero, and the rest of the decorations are simple and cozy.

Punto Rojo serves traditional Colombian food from different cities in the country. They also have a bakery with a variety of breads, fry cakes, and cakes.

During our trip to the restaurant, my father emphasized that he wanted to try “bandeja paisa,” the traditional Colombian plate that comes with white rice, grilled meat, sausage, a fried egg, beans, avocado, ground beef, yellow plantains, fried pork skin, and cornbread.

When we arrived at the restaurant, it was almost empty and there were five waitresses standing behind the counter.

My mother, my father, and I sat down at one table near the entrance. Thirty minutes later, a waitress approached our table and we ordered some food.

My father ordered a “bandeja paisa” and one apple soda. I ordered some mondongo meat soup, which is a potbelly meat soup with potatoes and vegetables. My mother ordered cornbread with cheese, which looks like a pancake.

After thirty-five minutes, the food arrived. My father’s plate was cold and incomplete. Also, the waitress gave him apple juice instead of apple soda.

Ten minutes later, the waitress arrived with my soup, and it was the wrong soup. She changed it, but again, she gave me the wrong soup.

Finally, she arrived with my mother’s food, but the cheese was rotten and the cornbread had a mosquito in it.

I couldn’t believe what was happening in that restaurant. I was disappointed with the poor service and the bad quality of the food.We never went back.

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